Freddie Roach will get Amir Khan into shape

American Freddie Roach’s likely installation as Amir Khan’s new trainer would
appear to be the perfect choice to put the Bolton fighter’s derailed career
back on track.

Floored: Amir Khan has plenty of work to rebuild his reputation in the ringPhoto: PA

By Gareth A Davies

4:52PM BST 23 Sep 2008

But is it too little, too late? Roach, known as "La Cucaracha" and "The Choir Boy" during his own career as a lightweight journeyman, believes not.

Khan’s propensity to be stunned was exposed by Colombian Breidis Prescott, yet Roach believes that Khan can overcome the flaws made so evident by Prescott in his 54-second knockout of the home fighter at the MEN Arena, sixteen days ago.

Khan spent last weekend at Roach's Wild Card gym in Los Angeles and although his team have yet to fully reveal the young fighter’s future plans, Roach has claimed he will train the 21-year-old prior to his December comeback fight.

Roach, who is training Filipino Manny Pacquiao ahead of his superfight with Oscar De La Hoya on Dec 6, revealed that Khan will train under him for six weeks prior to his next contest.

It has been reported that Khan split with his new Cuban trainer Jorge Rubio in the wake of his defeat to Prescott, although there were suggestions from Khan’s father Shajaad Khan that Rubio may still have a part to play in the new set-up. That decision, however will lie with Roach if he is appointed.

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Roach, who has already discussed Khan’s mistakes against Prescott with the fighter himself, said: "He [Khan] needs a rebuilding of everything to be honest with you, because sometimes when you get knocked out like that it can be pretty devastating.

"But you need to get right back at it and not waste any time. He's making a few fundamental mistakes and we'll make some adjustments. He's a very talented kid and he's capable of making those adjustments."

Roach, 48, has been voted trainer of the year three times by the Boxing Writers Association of America in 2003, 2006 and 2007. He remains one of the most sanguine, respected trainers in the sport, capable of distilling tactics with his charges, who notably include Americans De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Mike Tyson, and British fighters Wayne McCullough and Steve Collins.

He famously split with McCullough, refusing to train with him after a brain scan revealed the boxer had a cyst on his brain, although it was later disproved.

Under Roach, Khan has the prospect of rebuilding his shattered chin, and confidence.